The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-08-13
STAGAATIOx OF DEER CREEK,
HOW TO REMovE IT.
Editor GreenviIIe Times

creek visited Greenville last week
for the purpose Of comforting with
the Board of Supervisors relative
to the stagnant and unhealthy con-
dition of that stream; and being
requested by several of those gen.
tlemen to make any suggestions
which | might think appropriate,
looking to the removal of the evil
complained OF, ! beg leave to SUBJ
init the following:
In 1888, during my term as
Health Officer of this county, l
reported to the State Board of
Health the lamentable condition of
the state of affairs in that section,
and stated that | would make at
that time some suggestions in re-
gard to drainage which I consid.
cred feasible and practicable we're
it not for the fact of the almost
annual inundation from the Mis-
sissippi RIVER, accruing in conse-
quence of the imperfection of q
general levee system. But at this
time, considering the condition of
our leyees as permanent and ade.
quate to prevent these inunda.
tions, it is my opinion that the fol.
lowing suggestions will not only
be of advantage but practicable,
and should be considered impera-
tive.
In the first place. Deer creek is
a high-bank stream, and cannot in
any sense be considered naturally
a drainage stream, as every drop
of water which falls six inches
from the bank ON the east side is
drained into Bogue Phalia; while
every drop which falls six inches
from the west bank flows into
Black bayou. Hence it receives
Its supply of water, in the absence
of inundation from the Mississippi
river, mainly from springs along
its banks; which are insufficient
to keep the stream secured out
especially when the flow ofcurrent
is obstructed every few yards b,
logs, fallen trees, ETC., which natu
rally or otherwise fall into the
stream, or are hoated in during
overfows. Added to this, it hal
not been at all uncommon for log
in the fields adjacent to the bank
to be disposed Of by rolling then
into the stream, to say nothing o
those felled across it for footlogs
In this way number of drift pile
are formed, and deposits also
which consequently form pond
above these drift piles; and whel
the water is low, which is usual,
. the case in the Fall of the yeaI
become nothing more than stag
nant pools; and consequently tn
death of the fish which may b,
, pent up there.
In eanmer3tng the causes o
) tue stagnant pools above, omit
. ted 70 mention drains improperl.
! constructed, which causes Gavin
of the banks and a consequen
! filling up of the stream, at or nea
. the point of entrance of thes
; ! drains, and of course the estat
llshment OF o pond above.
The foregoing being my ideas il
substance of the trouble, now 70
the remedy. The first thing to b
done is to remove the debris.
allude to the drift piles, logs an
, brush. This can be easily accom-
pliahed by selecting the prope
time, by the use of the AK and tn
match, aided when necessary b.
j.. dynamite. Our engineers woul,
r be best able to suggest the bes
plan to get rid of these obstruC
5 tions. Iwould then by judiciou
' disposition of tiles so as to pre-
vent the caving Of the bank
drain as much water into the cree
; from the land adjacent as possible
In this way every rain would caus
a freshet and scour out the streal
thoroughly. Ifthis system shoul
meet with appreciation as regard
Deer creek and a similar systel
should be adopted as regards tn
streams that lead into the Bogu
and Black bayou, the GREAT CANA
which drains every drop of watt
n that falls between Williams
y bayou, Deer creek, and the Missi
Is sippi river, every inch of land
g this section would be high an
Is dry; and it would make Washin,
8 ton county one of the healthier
places on the habitable globe. An
: every inch of land, save the actu
!. drains, could be cultivated, Il
matter how wet the season.
Hoping that these suggestion
J. may be received aSthey are give